Science News
Giant Stone Urns Hint at the Death Rites of a Lost People in Laos
Thousands of mysterious containers lie scattered across northern Laos. These “death jars” may have provided a form of communal interment, archaeologists reported.
2025 Wildfires Were the Costliest Ever, Researchers Say
Severe, hard-to-control blazes in densely populated areas like Los Angeles drove the year’s record losses.
The Blue Micromoon Rises in Sunday’s Early Skies
The second full moon of May will look smaller and dimmer than usual.
By September, Nearly a Third of Americans Will Live in States With Legal Aid in Dying
Despite widespread support in polls, the number of people who actually go through with the practice remains very small.
China’s Rise in Drug Development Looms Over U.S.
Clinical trials in China are getting attention at an international oncology gathering in Chicago. China’s surging biotechnology industry is fueling alarm that U.S. dominance in the field is waning.
What’s Next for Blue Origin After Rocket Explosion
Jeff Bezos was gaining ground on Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Starlink. Thursday’s rocket explosion on a launchpad creates a major setback.
A Clean Energy PAC Helped Beat Chip Roy, and Now It Has New Targets
A PAC representing wind and solar energy interests spent $1.1 million to boost the Republican primary opponent of Chip Roy, an opponent of renewables. Now they are trying to save a Republican ally in Iowa.
What Exactly Caused That Loud Boom in South Carolina?
A huge noise rattled part of the state on Thursday. Multiple theories have been put forward, but the mystery remains.
A Hidden Treasure of Rare Snake Specimens
In the foothills of the Ecuadorean Amazon, a 101-year-old farmer and a young scientist turned an amateur collection into a scientific survey of one of the most diverse snake habitats on Earth.
Blue Origin Rocket Blows Up on Florida Launchpad During Test
The rocket, built by the Jeff Bezos-owned space company, was to carry 48 satellites into space. Blue Origin reported on social media that “all personnel have been accounted for.”
Suit Says Black Infants Were Subjected to Experimental Vaccine Without Consent
The babies were part of a vaccine trial for a respiratory virus in the 1960s and died shortly after. Their families said they had been unaware of the trial until recently.
Greenpeace’s Long War With a Pipeline Titan Enters a Strange New Phase
This month, a North Dakota court barred Greenpeace from saying what it wanted in a European court, an unusual move. The environmental group says it is forging ahead.
Happy, Bronx Zoo Elephant at Center of Animal Rights Case, Is Dead at 55
Activists had sued in a bid to secure her the fundamental human right to bodily liberty. Zoo officials said she was well cared for and called the lawsuit frivolous.
Genetic Scores are Booming. But Will Anti-Discrimination Laws Cover Your DNA?
As predictive medicine advances, legal scholars warn that decades-old federal guidelines could set up a potential clash between your genes and your job.
New York City’s Manhattanhenge is Back: When, Where and How to Watch
On Thursday and Friday, some streets in Manhattan will get a lot more crowded as people gather to watch the city’s unique solar spectacle.
Can New Technology Help Save North Atlantic Right Whales?
Innovative systems to keep ships from hitting North Atlantic right whales are coming into use. The Trump administration is weighing whether they can replace a bedrock protection.
Fish Sleep a Lot Like Us. (They Even Nap.)
By tracking eye movements in zebrafish, researchers identified four different types of sleep, analogous to the complex sleep patterns of humans and other animals.
The Viruses Causing New Outbreaks Are Much Less Familiar to Science
The types of Ebola and hantavirus panicking officials are very different from the species identified decades ago, raising new questions about how to respond.
NASA’s Moon Base Plan Adds Two Rovers for Its Astronauts
The contracts, announced on Tuesday, are part of the space agency’s efforts to establish a moon base.
A Fiery Visitor From Space Photo-Bombs an Erupting Volcano
For a split second, a fireball outshone the rivers of molten lava flowing from the Philippines’ most active volcano.